Nottingham Trent University Scholarship 2026: Complete Guide for International Students

If studying in the United Kingdom is on your list of goals, Nottingham Trent University is one institution you should seriously consider. Not just because of its strong academic reputation, but because of the range of scholarships it makes available to international students every year. The university awarded over 1,300 scholarships to students from more than 80 countries in the last academic cycle, and that alone tells you how committed NTU is to making quality education accessible to people from all corners of the world.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Nottingham Trent University scholarship program. From the different types of awards available to eligibility criteria, application steps, deadlines, and tips for a strong application, this article gives you a clear and complete picture of what is on offer and how you can get it.

About Nottingham Trent University Scholarship 

Nottingham Trent University, often referred to as NTU, is one of the United Kingdom’s most dynamic and forward-thinking universities. It is based in Nottingham, a vibrant city in the East Midlands of England that is well known for being one of the most affordable and student-friendly cities in the country. The university has over 5,000 international students from more than 160 countries, which gives it a genuinely diverse and multicultural campus community.

NTU has earned a remarkable reputation for student satisfaction, teaching quality, and graduate employability. In fact, the university has been named University of the Year five times in six years, winning the honor at the Times Higher Education Awards in 2017, The Guardian University Awards in 2019, The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide in both 2018 and 2023, and the Whatuni Student Choice Awards in 2023. This level of recognition across multiple independent rankings is not common, and it reflects just how consistently the university delivers a high-quality experience for its students.

In the QS World University Rankings, NTU places within the top 600 universities globally, and its programmes in business, law, science, art and design, fashion, architecture, environmental studies, and sports science are particularly well regarded. The university has also received a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, which is the UK government’s measure of teaching and learning quality.

Some of NTU’s most notable alumni include fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, former Burberry Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey, and award-winning author Matt Haig. These names reflect the university’s commitment to creative excellence and innovation across disciplines.

Why the NTU Scholarship Program Stands Out

Many UK universities offer scholarships, but NTU stands out because of how generous and accessible its scholarship program genuinely is. Scholarships at NTU range from £2,000 up to 50% off your tuition fees, and they are applied as direct tuition fee reductions once you enrol on your course. That means you do not receive the money in cash and then pay fees separately. Instead, the scholarship amount is simply deducted from what you owe, which keeps the process simple and transparent.

Another thing that makes NTU’s approach commendable is the single application process. When you apply for scholarships at NTU, you submit just one application form and you are automatically considered for all the scholarships and awards you are eligible for. You do not need to research and separately apply for each individual scholarship, which saves you significant time and effort.

NTU scholarship winners also gain access to additional benefits beyond just financial support. These include opportunities to volunteer, participate in networking events, and engage with the wider university community in ways that develop valuable professional skills alongside your studies.

Types of Nottingham Trent University Scholarships for International Students

NTU offers several distinct categories of scholarships for international students. Understanding each category will help you figure out which ones you are likely to qualify for and which ones deserve the most attention in your planning.

1. NTU Excellence Scholarships

The NTU Excellence Scholarships are the flagship competitive awards for new international students. These scholarships are awarded based on the strength of your scholarship application, and they offer either 50% or 25% off your first-year tuition fees. For undergraduate students, the award also includes £3,000 off each subsequent year of your course, which means the total value of the scholarship can be significant.

To put the value in context, if your tuition fee was £21,600 and you were awarded a 50% scholarship, your new tuition fee for that year would be £10,800. For a three-year undergraduate degree at that fee level, the 50% first-year discount combined with £3,000 off in years two and three could result in a total saving of well over £15,000 across the full course.

These scholarships are competitive, which means the university evaluates applicants against each other based on the quality of their written applications. Academic achievement plays a role, but so does your potential to contribute to the university community and your ability to articulate your goals clearly and convincingly.

2. NTU Country and School Scholarships

In addition to the main Excellence Scholarships, NTU offers a range of country-specific and school-specific scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These are also competitive and are awarded based on the strength of your application. They vary in value depending on the country and subject area, but they give students from specific regions or faculties an extra layer of targeted financial support.

Some regional examples of these scholarships include:

• Students from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Thailand can access country-specific awards worth up to £4,000.
• Various school-specific scholarships are available within faculties such as Nottingham Business School, where awards like the Dean’s Scholarship provide up to 50% tuition fee reductions to students who meet the academic excellence criteria.

The full list of country and school scholarships is available through the NTU international scholarships page, and since new awards are added for each academic cycle, it is always worth checking the latest listings directly on the university website when you are ready to apply.

3. GREAT Scholarships

The GREAT Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and well-known international scholarship programmes in the United Kingdom. It is a partnership between the British Council, the UK government, and participating universities across the country. Nottingham Trent University is one of those universities, and it offers GREAT Scholarships worth £10,000 each to students from eligible countries for the 2026/27 academic year.

The GREAT Scholarship at NTU is available for full-time postgraduate taught Masters programmes. There is one scholarship available per eligible country, making these awards highly competitive. The scholarship can only be used towards tuition fees and is only available for one-year full-time postgraduate courses, so it applies to the majority of standard Masters programmes at NTU.

Countries whose students are eligible for the GREAT Scholarship at Nottingham Trent University include nations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The scholarship is open to passport holders and residents of the target countries, and students from China must be mainland passport holders and residents to qualify.

The deadline for the GREAT Scholarship at NTU for September 2026 entry is Wednesday 27 May 2026. For January 2026 entry, the deadline was 19 December 2025. Always check the most current deadlines directly on the university’s website, as these can change from year to year.

4. NTU and NTIC Impact Scholarships

NTU has developed two special Impact Scholarships in partnership with Nottingham Trent International College. These are the Women in STEM Impact Scholarship and the Sustainability Scholarship. Both awards are designed to support students who are planning to make a meaningful contribution to their field and to society more broadly.

To be eligible for the NTU and NTIC Impact Scholarships, you must hold an offer for an eligible NTU undergraduate course with progression from Nottingham Trent International College and be classified as an overseas student for tuition fee purposes. These scholarships are competitive and awarded based on the quality of your application and your demonstrated commitment to the relevant theme, whether that is women in STEM or sustainability.

5. Pathway Progression Scholarships

For international students who complete a pathway programme at Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) or through Kaplan Digital Pathways before progressing to NTU, the university offers an automatic progression scholarship. Students who achieve an overall grade of 70% or above in their pathway programme automatically receive £1,000 for each year of study on their first course at the university, excluding any work placement year.

The fact that this scholarship is automatic is a real benefit because it removes the need to apply separately. If you hit the required grade in your pathway programme, the award is simply applied to your tuition fees when you progress to the main degree. This is a great incentive for pathway students to push themselves academically and aim for the highest grades possible in their preparatory year.

6. Subject-Specific Scholarships

NTU also offers scholarships tied to specific subject areas and programmes. These include:

• LLM Scholarships: These are available for international students enrolled in postgraduate law programmes at NTU. The scholarship covers tuition fees for eligible students from selected countries and is one of the more specialist awards in the university’s portfolio.
• Ghana Law School Scholarship: A partnership award specifically designed to support students from Ghana who are pursuing legal education at NTU.
• Nottingham Business School Dean’s Scholarship: An award recognizing academic excellence for students offered a place in the Nottingham Business School.

Subject-specific awards like these are worth researching carefully because they are often less well known and therefore less competitive than the general excellence scholarships. If your field of study aligns with one of these awards, you may have a higher chance of success.

Scholarships Available for UK and Home Students at NTU

While this article focuses primarily on international scholarships, it is worth mentioning that NTU also has a strong set of funding options for UK and home students. These include:

• NTU Sanctuary Scholarships: NTU is offering two Sanctuary Scholarships for undergraduate entry in September 2026. These are available for new students who have sought asylum in the UK but do not have access to Student Finance from the UK government. Each scholarship is worth £3,250 for every year of the undergraduate degree, excluding any placement year.
• NTU Care Leaver and Foyer Residents Bursary: A bursary of £1,000 per year for eligible students who are care leavers or foyer residents.
• NTU Estranged Student Bursary: A bursary of £1,000 per year for students whose national Student Finance service has assessed them as independent on the grounds of estrangement from their parents.
• NTU Opportunity Bursary: An annual award of £170 designed to support students in engaging with extra-curricular activities that might otherwise not be available to them.
• Sport Scholarships: Available to elite athletes who are pursuing their studies alongside competitive sport.
• Music Scholarships: Available for students wishing to develop their musical talent alongside their academic studies.

Full details of all bursaries and scholarships for UK students are available on the NTU bursaries and scholarships page.

PhD Scholarships at Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham Trent University is also an active research institution with a growing number of funded PhD opportunities. Each year, the university offers a set of Strategic Research Theme Studentships for PhD study. These funded studentships are pre-defined research projects that come with full financial support, including coverage of tuition fees and a tax-free stipend to help with living expenses.

These PhD scholarships are open to students from all nationalities, making them highly competitive. The funding is designed to attract outstanding researchers who can contribute to cutting-edge developments across NTU’s priority research themes. The university’s research areas span science and technology, social sciences, business, arts and humanities, and health and life sciences.

Applicants for PhD scholarships must submit a complete online application and can only apply for one project from the list of available Strategic Research Theme Studentships. Submitting multiple applications will lead to disqualification, so it is important to choose carefully and focus on the project that best matches your research background and interests.

Benefits for PhD scholarship holders at NTU typically include full tuition fee coverage, a tax-free annual stipend, access to world-class research facilities and laboratories, guidance from experienced academic supervisors, and networking and career development opportunities throughout the programme.

Eligibility Requirements for NTU International Scholarships

While each scholarship has its own specific criteria, there are some general eligibility conditions that apply to most of the international scholarship awards at Nottingham Trent University. You must meet all of the following requirements to be considered:

• You must hold an offer of a place on an eligible course at Nottingham Trent University.
• You must be classified as an overseas student for tuition fee purposes, meaning you are an international student paying international fees.
• You must be due to enrol on the first year of a new course of study in January 2026 or September 2026. Advanced entry students applying for years two or three of an undergraduate course are also eligible in some cases.
• You must not currently be studying at NTU. Students who are already enrolled at the university are not eligible to apply for these international scholarship awards.
• You must not be a student at Nottingham Trent International College progressing onto a degree, as NTIC progression students are covered under a separate scholarship scheme.
• You must not be fully sponsored, meaning your tuition fees must not already be paid in full by an employer, government body, or external funding organization.

If you are studying at an institution that has a partnership agreement with NTU, you may be eligible for either an NTU International Scholarship award or the Partner Progression Discount. The university will deduct whichever is the higher amount from your tuition fees.

International Tuition Fees at Nottingham Trent University

Understanding how much you would pay before and after the scholarship helps you appreciate just how impactful these awards can be. For September 2026 entry, international undergraduate tuition fees at NTU range from £17,950 to £18,700 per year depending on the course. Postgraduate tuition fees range from £17,200 up to £25,000 per year depending on the subject area and programme.

Some specific fee examples for 2026 entry include £18,700 per year for courses in the Nottingham School of Art and Design, the School of Science and Technology (London campus), and Nottingham Business School. If you are applying for a work placement as part of your undergraduate course, the placement fee for the 2026/27 academic year is £1,905.

With the 50% NTU Excellence Scholarship applied to a £21,600 fee, your first-year tuition cost would drop to £10,800. Combined with £3,000 off in each subsequent year for undergraduate students, the total savings over a standard three-year degree can easily exceed £15,000. These are substantial reductions that can make the difference between a student being able to study in the UK or not.

Application Deadlines for NTU Scholarships

NTU uses multiple scholarship deadlines throughout the year to give students flexibility in applying once they have received their admission offer. The earlier you apply, the sooner you will receive a decision, which gives you more time to plan your finances and make travel arrangements. For September 2026 entry, applications for scholarships are currently open.

Key deadlines to be aware of include:

• GREAT Scholarship (September 2026 entry): Wednesday 27 May 2026.
• NTU International Scholarships (September 2026): Multiple rolling deadlines throughout the year. Apply as soon as you have your offer.
• GREAT Scholarship (January 2026 entry): The deadline for this round was 19 December 2025.

Because NTU processes applications on a rolling basis and the scholarships are competitive, applying earlier in the cycle gives you an advantage. Do not wait until the final deadline if you already have your offer in hand.

How to Apply for Nottingham Trent University Scholarships

The application process for NTU international scholarships is designed to be as straightforward as possible. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of what you need to do:

1. Apply for admission first: Before you can apply for an NTU scholarship, you need to hold an offer to study at the university. Apply for your chosen undergraduate or postgraduate programme through UCAS (for undergraduate applicants) or directly through the NTU postgraduate application portal.
2. Receive your offer: Once you receive a conditional or unconditional offer from NTU, you are ready to apply for scholarships. You cannot submit a scholarship application without an offer in place.
3. Complete the single scholarship application form: NTU uses a unified application form. By completing one form, you are considered for all scholarships and awards that you are eligible for based on your nationality, subject area, and level of study. This saves you from having to research and apply for each award individually.
4. Write a strong personal statement: Your scholarship application gives you 500 words to make your case. Use these words wisely. Clearly express your academic achievements, personal interests, career goals, and the reasons you chose NTU. NTU explicitly states that scholarship applications written by ChatGPT or other AI tools will not be accepted, as scholarships are awarded based on individual skills and merit. Your application must be genuinely your own work.
5. Submit before the deadline: Check the relevant deadline for your entry point (January or September) and make sure your application is submitted in advance. Late applications will not be considered.
6. Wait for a decision: NTU will assess your application and notify you of the outcome. If successful, the scholarship will be applied as a tuition fee reduction once you enrol on your course.

Ready to start the process? Visit the official NTU international scholarships page to access the application form and explore all available awards for your entry year.

Tips for a Strong NTU Scholarship Application

Because these awards are competitive, the quality of your application matters a great deal. Here are some practical tips to help you stand out:

• Start early: Do not wait until the last minute. Applying earlier means you get a decision sooner, and the competition may be less intense at the start of the application window compared to the final weeks before a deadline.
• Read the criteria carefully: Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. Make sure you actually meet all the criteria before applying, and focus your application on the awards that are the best fit for your profile.
• Make every word count in your 500-word statement: NTU gives you 500 words. Do not waste them on generic statements. Be specific about who you are, what you have achieved, what motivates you, and how studying at NTU fits into your plans. The more precise and personal your writing, the more it will stand out from generic applications.
• Express your interests and achievements clearly: Scholarship reviewers want to know all about you and your goals for the future. Think about your academic achievements, leadership experiences, community involvement, and anything else that makes you a compelling candidate.
• Be honest and authentic: NTU has made it clear that AI-generated applications will not be accepted. Write in your own voice and describe your genuine experiences and aspirations. Reviewers can tell the difference.
• Do not apply for multiple PhD projects: If you are applying for a PhD studentship, remember that submitting more than one application leads to automatic disqualification. Choose the project that best matches your background and interests, and focus all your energy on that one application.
• Check your fee status: Make sure the university classifies you as an international fee-paying student, as this is a prerequisite for all international scholarship awards at NTU.

Student Life and Support at Nottingham Trent University

Getting a scholarship is the first step. Once you are studying at NTU, you will find a strong support system that helps you make the most of your time in the UK. NTU has invested over £450 million in its campus and facilities over the past decade, and the result is a modern, well-equipped learning environment that genuinely enhances the student experience.

Nottingham itself is a great city for students. It is significantly more affordable than London and many other UK university cities, which means your money goes further when it comes to accommodation, food, transport, and social activities. The city has a young, vibrant energy and plenty to see and do outside of your studies.

NTU’s City Campus is located in the heart of Nottingham, just a short walk from the city centre. The Clifton Campus is set in a green parkland environment on the outskirts of the city and has its own dedicated sports facilities. Both campuses are well connected by public transport.

In terms of academic support, NTU provides access to a wide range of resources including library services, academic skills development, career guidance, mental health and wellbeing support, and dedicated international student services. The university’s Careers and Employability Service helps students plan their career paths and connect with employers, both during their studies and after graduation. NTU consistently performs strongly in graduate employability rankings, which means a degree from NTU carries real weight in the job market.

NTU also has a strong sporting culture, with competitive opportunities for athletes at all levels through its sport scholarship programme, as well as recreational facilities open to all students. Music and arts scholarships similarly reflect the university’s broad commitment to developing the whole person, not just the academic.

Nottingham Trent University vs Other UK Universities for International Scholarships

When you compare NTU’s scholarship offerings to those of other UK universities, a few things stand out. First, the breadth of the scholarship program is impressive. Offering awards worth up to 50% of tuition fees across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels puts NTU in a genuinely competitive position. Many UK universities offer only small fixed-amount bursaries or limit their scholarships to specific nationalities.

Second, the single application approach is a real convenience. At many other universities, you need to identify and apply for each scholarship individually, which requires significant research and multiple rounds of applications. NTU’s unified form makes the process much more user-friendly.

Third, the GREAT Scholarship partnership with the British Council means NTU students from eligible countries can access a prestigious, government-backed award worth £10,000. This external validation of the scholarship program adds another layer of credibility and value for eligible applicants.

Final Thoughts

The Nottingham Trent University scholarship program is one of the most accessible, generous, and well-structured funding opportunities for international students studying in the UK. With awards ranging from £2,000 up to 50% of tuition fees, a prestigious GREAT Scholarship worth £10,000, PhD studentships with full tuition and stipend coverage, and a simple single-form application process, NTU has built a scholarship ecosystem that genuinely works for students.

If you are planning to study in the United Kingdom and want a university that combines strong academic credentials with real, meaningful financial support, Nottingham Trent University deserves to be high on your list. Applications for September 2026 entry are open right now, so there is no reason to delay.

Start by visiting the official university page, checking the scholarships you are eligible for, securing your admission offer, and then submitting your scholarship application as early as possible. Take the time to write a genuine, thoughtful, and well-crafted personal statement, and give yourself the best possible chance of joining the more than 1,300 students who receive NTU scholarships each year.

To explore all available scholarships, check your eligibility, and begin your application, visit the official Nottingham Trent University International Scholarships page today.